Environmental groups sue Ottawa over use of pesticides linked to cancer and water contamination

OTTAWA — Environmental groups are suing the Government of Canada for its refusal to protect Canadians from harmful pesticides already banned for use in other countries.

Ecojustice lawyers, acting on behalf of Équiterre and the David Suzuki Foundation, have filed a lawsuit alleging that the Minister of Health and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) acted unlawfully when they refused to review the approval of pest-control products containing three pesticides: chlorthal-dimethyl, trifluralin and trichlorfon.

Although these pesticides are already banned in Europe because of concerns over their impact on the environment and human health, they continue to be approved for use in Canada.

“This case is about ensuring that the Government of Canada protects its citizens and the environment from harmful pesticides,” said Ecojustice senior scientist Dr. Elaine MacDonald. “Other countries have banned these pesticides because they are extremely toxic and degrade the environment, so why is Canada still allowing their use?”

The lawsuit also challenges the PMRA’s unreasonable delay in responding to review requests, submitted in October 2012, for 26 other harmful pesticides, several of which are believed to cause cancer.

For instance, the PMRA has yet to respond to the groups’ review request for atrazine, which has been banned in Europe since 2004. Commonly used on corn crops, atrazine is one of the most frequently detected herbicides in Canadian surface water and groundwater. Exposure to atrazine is has been linked to reduced fertility in humans.

“The health of Canadians should be the government’s top priority,” said Mara Kerry, David Suzuki Foundation science and policy director. “If pesticides are not proven to be safe, we must find alternatives.”

PMRA refused to review the following pesticides:

Chlorthal-dimethyl is a herbicide used to control weed and grass growth on farms and has been banned in Europe since 2009. Several U.S. states have reported groundwater contamination from use of chlorthal-dimethyl. It has also been detected in Canadian surface water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also classified the herbicide as a possible human carcinogen.

Trifluralin is a top-selling herbicide in the Prairie provinces and can be found in 17 registered pesticide products in Canada. It has been banned in Europe, since 2007, because of its high toxicity to fish, high persistence in soil and high potential for bioaccumulation.

Trichlorfon is an insecticide approved for use on balsam fir and spruce wood lots, Christmas tree plantations and cattle. Banned in Europe since 2007, trichlorfon is linked to central nervous system and neurological effects in humans. It is also toxic to bees and birds.

“How much time will we have to wait before getting answers regarding harmful pesticides that other countries have banned?” said Isabelle Saint-Germain, deputy director at Équiterre. “It’s time for Canada to do what other nations have already done and protect its citizens and the environment from these dangerous chemicals.”

“It’s disappointing that Ottawa is dragging its feet on fulfilling its most basic obligation: to protect the health and wellbeing of Canadians,” added Gideon Forman, executive director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.

“Thank goodness organizations like Équiterre, the David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice are taking action to force Ottawa to acknowledge what we already know — that these toxic pesticides are harmful to human health and should be banned.”